Record changing mechanism for phonographs



May 26, 1942. v SLADE 2,284,305

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1940 2 Shets-Sheet 1 H. v. SLADE Miy 26, 1 942.

.RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1940 2 sheets sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- RECORD CHANGING MECHANISLI FOB PHONOGRAPHS Hector Vaughan Slade, Swindomlngland, assignor to The Garrard Engineering & Manufacturing Company Limited, Swindon, England Application March 2, 19-10, Serial No. 321,830 g In Great Britain March 25, 1939 9 Claims. (Cl. 274-) This invention relates to automatic record changing mechanism for phonographs or like talking machines of the type in which'records are supported in stack formation at their centres upon an off-set or shouldered spindle, and are released for transfer to the turntable by means engageable with the .edge of the lowermost record and movable to displace the said record laterally to effect its release from the supporting off-set or shoulder.

The main object, of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified mechanism of the above type which is adapted to deal with records of different sizes in the same batch, i. e. a mechanism which will successively discharge records so that they will remain in a substantially horizontal or in an inclined position without lateral support. These means comprise a stationary column 6 at one side of the turntable carrying at its upper end an arm I hinged at l and adapted to be brought over the stack of records resting on the post. The arm has a forked end and each of'the extremities carries a rubber pad 9 whichengages the upper side of the topmost record. The hinge pin 8 which is secured to the arm I carries a short'arm ll records from a stack of indiscriminately mixed 1 trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a record-changing mechanism for a phonograph adapted for playing ten-inch and twelve-inch records;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism withthe parts in position for playing atwelveinch record;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a part of the mechanism showing the movable platform in the forward position, which is also the loading position; t

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the platform in another position;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a part of the mechanism showing the means for setting the records on the supporting spindle.

In carrying the invention into effect accord- .tion of a preferred embodiment thereof illusto which is secured a spring H anchored at l2. When the arm 1 is in the position shown the arm I0 is to the left of the dead centre position, and the spring ll maintains a gentle pres-- sure upon the stack of records. on raising the arm -1 by hand the arm ll overpasses the dead centre and the spring will thenmaintain the arm 1 in a raised position permitting, records to be removed and replaced without-hindrance.

The records are displaced laterally, to effect their successive release from the off-set supporting post, by a laterally movable ,member comprising a platform l3 which normally has an inclination substantially the same as that of the records in the stack; this is shown in Figure 3, where the platform is in the loading position. The platform is supported by two levers which are actuated independently. A straight lever l4, pivotallymounted on a spindle I5, is pivotally connected to the rear end of the platform at IS. A double bell-crank lever ll, also levers are actuated by cams, as will be hereining to one convenient mode, as applied by way 4 of example to' record-changing mechanism for ten-inch and twelve-inch records, there is pro vided a frame I having a turntable 2 and a cenafter explained.

An aperture 20 near the forward edge of the platform I3 receives a movable abutment 2| which forms part of a lever 22 pivoted at 23 beneath the platform. The tail 24 of this lever extends downwardly and is weighted so that normally the abutment 2| projects through the aperture in the platform, as is shown in Figure 4. The lever may be spring-loaded if desired. A stop member 25, lying in the path of the tail 24, is mounted on a bracket 26 forming part of a framework 21 which forms an enclosure for this part of the mechanism.

The levers which support and control the movements of the platform are actuated by a rotary cam device. The lower end of lever I4 is connected by a link 28 to an intermediate point on a lever 29 which has a fixed pivot at art.

'mon path 32a, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

The double bell-crank lever i1 is connected by .a link 33 to, an intermediate point of a lever its further end a stud 36 engaging with a track 31 in a second rotary cam device 33.

The pick-up arm 33 is swung inwardly and outwardly by a lever 43 having a stud 4| e gaged in double cam paths 42a and 42b diverging from and returning to single path 42 on the rotary cam device 38. This cam track has diverging paths which are disposed to give the appropriate the projection 2| beneath the l-reeords on the supporting post, and within the area of the smallest At this point corresponding to point .31, in cam path 31.as seen in Figure 1 further rotation of the cam 38 in the direction of the arrow H actuates lever 34 through, stud 36 which in turn 34 having affixed pivot at 35, and carrying at lateral displacements to the tone arm for teninch and twelve-inch records respectively.

The stud 4| is carried by a member 42' pivotally mounted on the lever 43 and held against a'stop by a spring 43. The pin 4| is guided into the appropriate cam groove or path 420. or 42b diverging from path 42 by a lever 44 carrying a doublearmed lever 45 which is' pulled against a stop by spring 46. Lever 44 has a pin engaging the slotted lever 41 pivoted to a sliding link 43 the further end of which engages the lever M. A biasing spring 49 connected at one end to sliding link 48 maintains said link and lever II in engagement.

The leading position of the platform mechanism is shown in Figure 3. With the platform in this position andthe steadying arm I raised,

* the records are threaded upon the spindle with their edges resting upon the platform, the steadying arm being afterwards replaced.

The releasing of records one by one from the supporting post-is effected by the platform l3. This platform is given a series of motions which include a lateral withdrawal from the position shown in' Figure 3, which motion takes place in the plane of the record until the abutment 2| 5 -is free of the edge of the record and consequently The outward movement of the platform is 1; thereupon arrested and the platform is moved, inwardly with the abutment in engagement with the lowermost record, which is thereby disengaged from the shoulder. i of the supporting post and falls by gravity upon the turntable. These operations will now be described in detail.

It will be assumed that the mechanism is in the playing position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with one or more records upon the turntable, and at least one remaining upon the shoulder of the supporting post. The arm I is in the steadying position, as shown in Figure 5." The changing operation will be initiated by the automatic engagement of the clutchon the driving motor at the conclusion of the playing of the.

record on the turntable, this engagement of the clutch causing the driving motor to actuate the various cams, such mechanism for initiating a record changing cycle being well-known in the Rotation of cam 32 actuates the lever 23 through stud. 3|. The lever 23 is connected by link 23 to the lever l4 supporting the rear end of the platform, which is thereby given a forward movement 1. e., towards the record centers and the spindle. During this movement the front edge'of the platform is maintained inthe depressed position,-as shown in Figures-1 and 4,

by the stud "which is engaged and rides in track This position of the mechanism is shown in Figure 3. Continued rotation of the cam 32 imparts a reverse movement to the long lever l4 which withdraws the platform horizontally. The two diverging cam paths 32b and 32c extending from the common path 320 of cam 32 in which stud 3| is engaged to ride cause upon actuation of said cam-the lateral displacement of platform I3 forwardly and rearwardly through the coaction of lever |4, link 23 and pivoted lever 23 carrying the stud 3| at its free end. The further stud 3| is displaced to the right in its movement along one or the other of the cam paths, the greater the corresponding-movement of platform l3 to the lever towards a position outward of the record pile. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the draw ngs; cam path 32c extends further to the rightthan cam path 32b and thereby controls l the movement of the platform to its furthest position outward of the pile, cam-path 32c being in correspondence with twelve inch records 'and cam path 32b with ten inch records. The abutment 2| will remain depressed until the edge of the lowermost record is reached, when it will spring up by virtue of gravity and as a consequence the tail 24 of the abutment lever 22 will fall. If the lowermost record is a small one,

i. e. a ten-inch record, this tall will fall into a position in which it will engage the fixed stop 25 as the platform continues its rearward movement. This movement thus ceases and the arthe centre spindle. If, on the other hand, thelowermost record is a large one (i. e. a twelveinch record), the abutment 2| will remain depressed and the tail 24 of the abutment lever will be held clear of the stop 25 while the platform continues its rearward movement. As this rearward movement is not impeded the follower stud 3| will enter the other groove or diverging path 32c from groove or path 32a of the cam 32 which is adapted to give an appropriate forward movement to release the twelve-inch record, the said stud 3| being normally urged into diverging cam path 320 by the contraction of, biasing spring 43 which during the inward movement of the platform |3 by lever H has been tensed by extension with the consequent inward movement of lever 43 cooperating with lever l4. From Figure 2 it'will be seen that the cam 32 has a pair of diverging grooves each of which is formed to give a forward or record-releasing movement to the platform followed by a withdrawal, the grooves then re-uniting. Upon completion of this final withdrawal the platform occupies the 31 on cam 33. The forward movement brings position from which it originally started, as i cams are brought to rest. The playing of the record then'takes place. Upon completion or the record-playing the operation is repeated.

The different rearward movements of the platform, which take place in accordance with the size of the lowermost record of the stack, are utilised to control the setting of the pick-up or tone arm, which is given its horizontal movement by the control arm 40; The sliding link 48 is held against the long lever II by the spring 45, and the link consequently follows the movements of the said lever. These movements are imparted through lever 41 to lever 44 which guides the follower stud ll of the arm 40 into the appropriate groove of the cam in a manner well understood. y

The invention has been described as applied to the changing of ten-inch and twelve-inch records, but may obviously be applied to other sizes if desired.

I claim: v

1. A record changing mechanism for phonographs comprising a magazine carryin a pile of disc records of diiferent diameters disposed one above the other a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and a position outward of the pile, a pawl on said member normally urged upwardly to project thereabove and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member is beneath the pile, a plurality of driving means of diiferent travel, and driven means operatively connected with said member and selectively engageable with one or the other the lowermost record from the pile, selector means normally urging the cam actuated means into engagement with one of said cams for pro- "viding a lateral movement of the member to its furthermost outward position, and stop means positioned to selectively engage the pawl when said pawl in the outward movement of the member has passed the periphery of a lowermost record of smaller diameter, thereby to limit the lat-.

- ameters disposed one above the other, a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and spaced posiof said driving means forreciprocating said member, whereby in the, outward movement of said member the depressed pawl is urged upwardly as .it passes the periphery of the lowermost record of the pile and in the inward movement of said member said projecting pawl. laterally displaces the lowermost record from the pile, selector means normally urging the driven means into engagement with one of said driving means for providing a lateral movement of the member to its furthermost outward position, and stop means positioned to selectively engage the pawl when said pawl in the outward movement of the member has passed the periphery of a lowermost record of smaller diameter, thereby to limit the lateral movement of the member to a position intermediate the furthermost outward position, said stop means upon engagement with the pawl rendering the selector means inoperative and selectively engaging the driven means with the other of said driving means.

2. A record changing mechanism for phonographs comprising a magazine carrying a pile of disc records of different diameters disposed one above the other, a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and a position outward of the pile, a pawl on said member normally urged upwardly to project thereabove, and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost recordof the pile when said member is beneath the pile, a plurality of cams of different travel, and cam actuated means operatively-connected with said member and selectively engageable with one or the other of said cams for reciprocating said member, whereby in the outward movement of said memher the depressed pawl is urged upwardly as it,

tions outward of the pile, a pawl on said member normally urged upwardly for projection thereabove and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said memberis beneath the pile, a plurality of driving means of diiferent travel and driven means operatively connected with said member and selectively engageable with the respective driving means for laterally reciprocating said member between its position beneath the pile of records and one of the spaced positions outward of the pile, whereby inthe outward movement of said member said depressed pawl is urged upwardly as it passes the periphery of the lowermost record of the pile and in the inward movement of said member said projecting pawl laterally dis-V places the lowermost record of the pile, selector riphery of a lowermost record in the pile of small the selector means inoperative and selectively engaging the driven means with the other of said driving means.

4. A record changing mechanism for phonographs comprising a magazine carrying a pile of disc records of intermixed large and small diameters disposed one above the other, a member mounted for lateralmovement between a position beneath the pile of records and spaced positions outward of the pile, a pawl on said member normally urged upwardly for projection thereabove and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member is beneath the pile, a plurality 'of cams of diflerent travel and cam actuated means operatively connected with said member and selectively engageable with the respective cams for laterally reciprocating said member betweenits position beneath the pile of records and one of the spaced positions outward of the pile, whereby in the outward movement of said member said depressed pawl is urged upwardly as it passes the periphery of the lowermost record of the pile and in the inward movement of said member said projecting pawl laterally displaces the lowermost record of the pile, selector means normally engaging the cam actuated means with the cam to provide an outward movement of the member to its furthermost spaced position and step means positioned to selectively engage the pawl in the outward movement oi said ,member when said pawl has passed the periphery oi'a lowermost record-in the pile of small diameter and to limit the Jurwe ther "outward 'movement. of said member, said stop means rendering the selector means-inoperative and selectively engaging the cam actuated means with the other of said cams,

5. A record changing mechanism for phonographs comprisinga carrying a pile of intermixed disc records oi twelve and ten inch diameter disposed one above the other, a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and spaced positions outward of the pile, a pawlonsaid member nor- I mally upwardly urged to project thereabove and depressible by surface; contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member is beneath the pile, a plurality of cams oi diii'erent travel corresponding to records of twelve and ten inch diameter and cam actuated means operatively connected with said member and seto limit'the outward movement ot. the member to a position intermediateits furthermost outward position, said stop means upon engagement with the pawl rendering the selector means inoperative and, selectively ensuin the cam istuated means with the cam path corresponding to records oi small diameter.- 7

"7. A record changing'mechanism'ior phonegraphs comprising a pile of intermixed disc recordsorlargeandsmalldiameters disposedone above the other, a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and spaced positions outward oi the pile, a pawl on said member normally upwardly urged to Pr ject thereabove and depressibleby suri'ace contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member is beneath the pile, a

cam having dual paths operable respectively in relation to large and small records and cam actuated means operatively connected with said member and selectively engageable with one or the other of said cam paths for reciprocating said member, whereby'in the outward movement of the member said depressed pawl will be urged upwardly as it passes the periphery of the lowermost record or the pile andin the inward movement of the member said projecting pawl will laterally displace the lowermost record from the pile, selector means normally urging the cam actuated means into engagement with the cam path corresponding to the records of larger dimally urging the cam actuated means into engagementwith the cam corresponding to the records of twelve inch diameter for providing a lateral movement of the member to its furthermost outward position, and stop means positioned tov selectively engage the pawl in the outward movement of said member when said pawl haspassed the periphery of a lowermost record 0f the pile of ten inch diameter, and to limit the outward movementof the member to a position interme- I idate its furthermost outward position, said stop means upon engagement with the pawl rendering,

the selector means inoperative and selectively engaging the cam actuated means with the cam corresponding to records oil-ten inch diameter.

6. A record changing'mechanism for phone'- graphs comprising a magazine carrying a pileof intermixed disc records of diiierent diameters disposed one above the other, a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and spaced positions outward 'ameter for providing a lateral movement of the member to its iurthermost outward position. and

stop means positioned to selectively engage the pawl in the outward movement of said member when said pawl has passed the periphery of a lowermost record of the pile oi! smallerdiameter, and to limit the outward movemento! the memher .to a position intermediate its iurthermost outward position, said stop meansuponengagement with the pawl rendering the selector means --inoperative and selectively engaging the cam actuated means with the cam path corresponding to records of smaller diameter.

-8. A record'changing mechanism for phonographs comprising a magazine carrying a pile of the pile, a pawl on said member normally upwardly urged to project thereabove and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member isbeneath the pile, a cam having multiple paths and cam; actuated means operatively connected with said member and selectively engageable with one or J the other of said cam paths for reciprocating said member, whereby in the outward movement of the member said depressed pawl will be urged upwardly as it passes the periphery of the lowermost recordoi the pile and iii the inward movement of vthe member said projecting pawl will laterally displace the lowermost record from the pile, selector means normally urging the cam actuated means into engagement with the cam path corresponding to the records of large diameter for providing a lateral movement'of the member to its iurthermost outward position, and stop means positioned to selectively engage the pawl in the outward movement of said member when said pawl has passed the periphery of a lowermost record of the pile of small diameter, and

of intermixed disc records of twelve and ten inch diameters disposed one above the other, a member mounted for lateral movement between' a position beneath the pile of records and spaced positions outward of the pile, a pawl on said member normally upwardly urged to project thereabove and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member is beneath the piles cam having dual paths operative respectively in relation to ten and twelve inch records and cam actuated means operatively connected with said 'member and selectively ens seable with one or the other of said cam paths for reciprocating said member, whereby in the outward movement of the member said depressed pawl will be urged upwardly as it passes. the periphery of the lowermost record of the pile and in the inward movement 01' the member said projecting pawl will laterally displace the lowermost record from the pile, selector means normally urging the cam aetuatedmeans into engagement with the cam path corresponding to the records of twelve inch diameter for providing a lateral movement of the member to its .furthermost outward position, and stop means positioned to selectively engage the pawl in the outward movement or said member when said pawlhas passed the periphery 01' a lowermost record or the pile of furthermost outward P sition, said stop means upon engagement with the pawl rendering the selector means inoperative and selectively engaging the cam actuated means with the cam path corresponding to records of ten inch diameter.

9. In a record changing mechanism for phonographs comprising'a shouldered element mounted above a turntable and supporting at their centers and flatwise one above the other, a pile of records of diflerent diameters, a member mounted for lateral movement between a position beneath the pile of records and a position outward of the pile, a pawl on said member normally urged upwardly to project thereabove, and depressible by surface contact with the lowermost record of the pile when said member is beneath the pile, a plurality of cams of different travel, and cam actuated means operatively connected with said member and selectively engageable with one or the other of said cams for reciprocating said member, whereby in the outward movement of said member the depressed pawl is urged upwardly as it passes the periphery of the lowermost record of the pile and in the inward movement of said member said projecting pawl laterally displaces the lowermost record of the pile from the'shouldered element onto the tumtable, selector means normally urging the .cam

actuated means into engagement with one of I said cams for providing a lateral movement of the member to its furthermost outward position, and stop means positionedto selectively engage the pawl whensaid pawl in the outward movement of the member has passed the periphery of a lowermost record of smaller size, thereby to limit the outward movement of 'the member to a position intermediate the furthermost outward position, said stop means upon engagement with the pawl rendering the selector means inoperative and selectively engaging the cam actuated means with the other of said cams, a pickup arm mounted for lateral movement from a position outward of the turntable to a position above the turntable into playing contact with the outermost groove of the lowermost record displaced from the pile onto the turntable, a second plurality of cams of difl'erent travel and a second cam actuated means operatively connected with said pickup arm and selectively engageable with one or the other of said second named cams for moving said pickup arm, means operatively connecting said first named cam actuated means with said secondnamed cam actuated means, whereby upon selective engagement of the first named cam actuated means with the, one of said first named cams for reciprocating said member, the second named cam actuating means is selectively engaged with a corresponding cam ofthe second named cams for moving the pickup arm into playing position.

HECTOR VAUGHAN SLADE. 

